The new report points to strawberries as being the most pesticide-contaminated fruit or vegetable tested. It ranked higher than apple, which topped the list for the last 5 years in a row. The EWG looks at the results of tests done by the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration to produce their list. The results of another report done by CBS news found that almost all non-organic strawberries had pesticide resides and nearly half of the tested samples contained at least 10 different pesticide chemicals.
Yes, the FDA acknowledges that most pesticides are safe to consume, and the EPA argues the levels of pesticides found in fresh produce are safe to eat. They also warn that others have been linked to various health issues and neurological problems. So, who’s right? What do we do? By all means don’t stop eating the items found on the Dirty Dozen List. I hope you still love and enjoy strawberries. The EWG just recommends that you purchase the organic versions of the items found on the Dirty Dozen List and of course always thoroughly wash all produce before consuming it. In the end the choice is yours and with most things in life each choice we make has it’s own potential risks and rewards.
The “Dirty Dozen” list:
12.Cucumbers
11.Cherry tomatoes
10. Sweet bell peppers
9. Tomatoes
8. Spinach
7. Cherries
6. Grapes
5. Celery
4. Peaches
3. Nectarines
2. Apples
1. Strawberries
In addition to releasing its “Dirty Dozen” list, the organization also creates its annual “Clean Fifteen” list of fruits and vegetables that were found to have minimal amounts of pesticides:
The Clean Fifteen
15.Cauliflower
14.Cantaloupe
13. Grapefruit
12. Honeydew melon
11. Eggplant
10. Kiwi
9. Papayas
8. Mangos
7. Asparagus
6. Onions
5. Frozen sweet peas
4. Cabbages
3. Pineapples
2. Sweet corn
1. Avocados
